The Oklahoma City Thunder have been one of the most injury-riddled teams in the league this season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just missed close to three weeks with an abdominal strain. Ajay Mitchell still remains out with the same injury. Jalen Williams has played in just 26 games. Even Alex Caruso has been limited throughout much of the season.
Things seemed like the might clear up soon with updates on Mitchell's and Williams' statuses coming. Of course, that didn't turn out to be the case. In their matchup against the New York Knicks on Wednesday, both Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein left the game early.
Yet the Thunder still sit atop the Western Conference and are, in many people's books, the championship favorites. Between now and the end of the regular season, they must do everything they can to prepare for a deep playoff run.
Caruso has been touch-and-go all season, and they will continue to rest him to make sure he's ready to play his role in the playoffs. Hartenstein's injury, however, is infinitely more concerning. It leaves the Thunder with only one choice.
They must rest Hartenstein as extensively as possible over the next few weeks. They cannot afford for him to be at anything less than 100% heading into the playoffs.
Isaiah Hartenstein needs rest, and the Thunder might have to sacrifice some wins to give it to him
Anyone who has watched even one Thunder game this season knows how important Hartenstein is to their game-plan. He provides them with the flexibility to start games big, slotting him in alongside Chet Holmgren in the frontcourt.
But, perhaps more importantly, he grants them an additional paint presence to utilize over the course of games, off-setting Holmgren's trips to the bench. In the playoffs, maintaining size for the full 48 minutes will be of the utmost importance.
Hartenstein's injury, in isolation, doesn't seem all that concerning. The team described it as "calf tightness", sustained in the opposite leg than the one that's suffered two separate soleus strains this season.
But Hartenstein knows from experience that these types of injuries can quickly get worse or be re-aggravated. A third soleus strain, even in the opposite leg, would be absolutely disastrous.
Resting Hartenstein for a stretch of games could jeopardize the Thunder's shot one-seed. The San Antonio Spurs sit just 2.5 games back in the standings. Oklahoma City's sights must be set on a greater goal, however.
Resting Hartenstein for a large stretch of games, while still giving him ample time to ramp up for the playoffs, must be on the table as a result.